Neglected Veterans Moaning in Pain
WASHINGTON — (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Vern Buchanan today demanded answers from the Department of Veteran Affairs after reports of deplorable conditions and neglect at VA nursing homes across the nation.
Buchanan’s inquiry comes after USA Today and The Boston Globe reported that inspectors found that veterans were harmed at VA nursing homes in 25 states.
The report cited veterans moaning for lack of adequate medication to a dementia patient whose foot was stuck in his wheelchair for hours as staff walked by without offering any assistance.
Some of the most disturbing revelations found that many facilities failed to prevent and control infections, that two out of three nursing homes didn’t follow simple protocols such as wearing gloves and gowns when treating patients as well as exposing veterans to hazardous conditions at dozens of VA nursing homes.
“These examples paint a very dark and nightmarish picture of a broken system that is failing our brave men and women who selflessly served our nation in uniform,” Buchanan continued. “Even more disturbing, this is not the first time we have learned about grossly unsatisfactory conditions at VA nursing homes. In fact, last June I called for a Congressional investigation to get to the bottom of similar revelations.”
Buchanan, who represents more than 88,000 veterans in Southwest Florida, has a strong record of fighting for military families. Last month, he urged President Trump to prioritize suicide prevention funding for veterans in his Fiscal Year 2020 budget to Congress. He recently launched an inquiry with the Air Force on hazardous living conditions at MacDill Air Force Base.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Secretary Wilkie,
I am writing to you today in light of an explosive new report detailing horrific conditions at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing homes across the nation.
According to an article by USA Today and The Boston Globe, surprise inspections form a private contractor found widespread and systemic failures at more than 50 VA nursing homes across the country. In fact, inspectors cited a staggering 52 out of 99 nursing homes they examined for failures that caused “actual harm” to veterans.
In one disturbing case, inspectors at a Massachusetts facility witnessed a dementia patient whose foot was stuck in a wheelchair for hours as staff walked past the man without offering any assistance. Other observed locations in Ohio and Maine saw veterans audibly suffering from a lack of adequate medication. Even more shocking, water used for bathing and washing hands at several locations was so dangerously hot (up to 128 degrees) that it could scald veterans. And at yet another location, inspectors found that they had no functioning call system for residents to summon caregivers.
Other disturbing revelations found that many facilities failed to prevent and control infections, that two out of three nursing homes didn’t follow simple protocols such as wearing gloves and gowns when treating patients as well as exposing veterans to hazardous conditions at dozens of VA nursing homes.
These examples paint a very dark and nightmarish picture of a broken system that is failing our brave men and women who selflessly served our nation in uniform. Even more disturbing, this is not the first time we have learned about grossly unsatisfactory conditions at VA nursing homes. In fact, last June I called for a Congressional investigation to get to the bottom of similar revelations.
We need accountability and transparency at the VA once and for all. Every agency employee needs to fulfill their duty and uphold the VA mission “to care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
The continued abuses of veterans at these nursing homes is disgraceful and unacceptable.
That is why I am requesting a detailed explanation for these disgraceful conditions and the steps the agency will take to rectify them. The 50,000 nursing home patients across America deserve nothing short of exceptional care and respect. This report clearly demonstrates that we are falling short of that commitment to our veterans.
I appreciate your unwavering dedication in support of America’s veterans and look forward to your prompt response on this critical matter.
